Lugano residents were shocked to discover that the Satoshi Nakamoto statue, an artistic installation designed by Valentina Picozzi, had gone missing. The statue, which depicted the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin fading into code, was an important part of the city’s push to become a global Bitcoin hub. It had been standing since October 2024 at the Plan B Bitcoin forum, a symbol of Lugano’s embrace of cryptocurrency.
Satoshi Nakamoto statue Disappearance sparks investigation
The statue’s theft was first reported on X by user @Grittoshi, who speculated that it had been thrown into a nearby lake. In response, Satoshigallery, an artistic project associated with Picozzi, offered a reward of 0.1 BTC for anyone who could help recover the statue. The post emphasized the symbolic nature of the theft, stating that while the statue could be taken, the spirit of the movement remained intact.
Global impact and connections
This theft occurred just over a week after the unveiling of the third Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Tokyo, Japan, further highlighting the growing global interest in celebrating the Bitcoin creator. Satoshigallery has expressed its commitment to placing statues in 21 locations worldwide, reinforcing the global significance of the project.